The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 30
Note
Note.
1. | That, in the opinion of this Council, the forest regulations as yet introduced by the Government are inadequate, and not practically adapted to the requirements of this Province. |
2. | That this Council, in responding to the expression of the Government circular now before it, is of opinion that the New Zealand State Forests' Act of last session sets up a mere semblance of administration, utterly incapable of accomplishing any satisfactory results in retarding forest waste through fires that are becoming increasingly prevalent year after year. |
3. | That while the Council has this belief with regard to existing forest laws, it desires to convey to the Government a hearty sympathy with the principle, that our forests should receive more effort to protect them than is now given. |
4. | That, having this important object in view, this Council respectfully urges upon the Government the extreme necessity of providing during the coming session an exhaustive but page 4 practical system of forestry laws, having provisions so varied as to suit the special needs of the different Provinces where forests exist. In doing this, it has the impression that such a code would have been supplied long since, had the Government only been fully aware of the very great value of forest operations to the industrial economy of this Colony, and the enormous, yet comparatively unheeded loss that is being annually inflicted upon this Province through fires that are commonly of wilful origin. |
In support of the resolutions, Mr. Monk read the following important statement, which, with his consent, the Council resolved to publish in pamphlet form for circulation amongst members of the Legislature and the local bodies in the Auckland Provincial District. Mr. Monk has had the experience of a lifetime amongst the forests of the Auckland district, and is thoroughly conversant with the conditions of growth of the different species of trees. He has also, as every Auckland citizen knows, had large interests committed to his care for many years past in connection with our timber industry. He is, in fact, a specialist, and a very enthusiastic one, on this subject. In the present paper Mr. Monk does not enter into the question of replanting, but it is understood that he possesses definite ideas and a largo amount of information on this part of the subject, which it is hoped he will shortly be able to give to the public.
O. Mays
, Chairman Waitemata County Council. Auckland,February 15, 1886.